We encounter a variety of texts every day: some “urge” us to get something (advertising loguns), others tell a fascinating story (fiction), others we use to transmit information to our interlocutor (colloquial speech).
We see, hear or pronounce a certain combination of letters, and sometimes we don’t even think about what style they are presented in, what genres of text we use. We do this intuitively - succinctly talk with business partners, allow ourselves slang in a friendly conversation, wait for beautiful descriptions from fiction and clear presentation of information from scientific.
But sometimes the choice of style can be erroneous, i.e. not match the speech situation. How to avoid this? It turns out that there is such a science - stylistics, which studies the style, type, genre of the text and helps to understand their classification.
Let's try to understand the expressive capabilities of the text, study the classification of styles and genres and determine in which situations it is worth using them.
Spoken style
This style is most suitable for communication in everyday life and has the nature of live communication between people of different social ranks and educational levels. It can be expressed both through dialogue and in personal correspondence (e-mail, chat, mail correspondence).
Styles and genres of text that are available for communication in everyday life, do not have strict boundaries, are tolerant to errors, allow the introduction of foreign language, slang words, abbreviations and even profanity. In addition, the colloquial style uses a free word order.
Dialog example:
A: Well, my friend, is you ready to set off?
B: Yes, I already have a roof coming from this cramming ...
This style is characterized by emotional coloring, which is achieved through exaggeration, affectionate treatment, resentment or enthusiasm.
Dialog example:
A: Hooray!
B: What happened, daughter?
A: Mom, I got the main role in the school production.
B: Well, what a smartie you are!
In addition, in the colloquial style, there are various interjections filling in the pauses in the dialogue, and parasitic words that are repeated from time to time in the speech.
Dialog example:
A: In short, I came to her ... We agreed. In short, do you understand !?
B: Well ..?
A: And she, in short, is not at home.
All conversational style sentences are simple and straightforward. They have no eloquent comparisons and complex turns of speech.
Dialog example:
- Would you like some coffee?
- Come on!
- With sugar?
- No.
Science style
This style serves to state clear scientific facts and is enlightening in nature.
Unlike conversational, the scientific style is restrained from an emotional point of view, has a clear sequence of presentation. He does not tolerate errors and colloquial expressions.
Each fact of scientific exposition has a foundation of arguments, proving its relevance.
The scientific style has a clear narrative structure:
- an introduction that denotes a specific theory;
- the main part, where arguments and counterarguments are given;
- a conclusion summarizing all the facts stated.
This style is presented in the form of a well-meaning monologue, and dialogues are held in the form of discussions. The appeal of all participants in the discussion to each other is presented in a respectful manner.
Dialog example:
A: This theorem does not require proof.
B: I'm sorry, Dr. Fedorov, I have to disagree with you.
The scientific style is characterized by the use of special terminology and words that are not used in colloquial speech. In addition, the presentation often uses words designed to emphasize the logical sequence of judgments: in this way, for example, by the way, etc.
Example:
Deviant behavior of some individuals is often associated with the incorrect construction of a chain of priorities.
Such genres of text correspond to this style as a report, essay, article, methodological manual.
Official business style
This is a business negotiation style. The way of presenting information in this style is regulated and standardized, as evidenced by the presence of special forms and stamps. It is characterized by accuracy, conciseness, neutrality of narration.
This style can also be recognized by the presence of special words: in connection, on the basis of, I order, I undertake, the plaintiff, employer, responsible person, take measures, etc.
Example:
In connection with systematic violations of discipline, I order the removal of citizen A. Ivanov from official duties until further clarification of the reasons.
The dialogue between the participants in an official business conversation is conducted in a respectful manner, regardless of qualifications and niche occupied in the business hierarchy.
Dialog example:
A: Marina Petrovna, be so kind as to bring us coffee.
B: One minute, Sergey Viktorovich.
Formal business styles of text and genres include contracts, business proposals, decrees, laws, declarations, regulations, business correspondence and, of course, business dialogue.
Journalistic style
The functionality of this style is to convey information to the masses, highlight resonant events, influence, call to action.
This style is used mainly by the media and is the most controversial. It may contain both clarity, logic and neutrality, as well as emotionality, expression of one’s own opinion. Simple sentences can alternate with complex ones. The journalistic narrative is full of metaphors, epithets, comparisons, in them you can often find borrowed words lined up in an unusual chain. Irony and sarcasm are also appropriate here.
Any rules for building the structure of the presentation of information can be violated for the sake of one main goal - to attract the attention of readers or listeners.
Example:
What pushes young people to such conflicting exploits? Bad Education? The negative influence of peers? Ecology? I think the problem is brain drain.
Genres of journalistic texts include newspapers, articles, magazines, campaign programs, political speeches and debates.
Art style
Everyone has a favorite book. It has a characterization of characters and a description of the world around, detailing of scenes, a comparison of situations, a description of behavior, thoughts and voice acting of the dialogue.
This is literary text.
Example:
He was so excited that he could not speak. She was silent too.
Fiction has no clear boundaries and takes characteristics from other styles. In the dialogue, the character can use the conversational style, and some monologues are described in a scientific style. But such expressive and emotional techniques as epithets, allegory and metaphor are a purely literary text.
Example:
The leaves shimmered with barga-amber colors under the rays of the setting sun going down to the sunset.
Sentences in this style are filled with synonyms and antonyms. A popular technique of fiction is the alternate submission of simple and complex sentences.
Example:
I ran along the main street for several miles, then turned into a park and frantically looked around. It's empty.
Typology of literary genres in form
The classification of the genre of texts is made in three directions: form, content and gender.
The literary form means the union of works with identical formal properties.
The following genres of text are distinguished by form:
1. A play is a literary creation intended for a stage production in a theater.
2. A story is a prosaic narrative of one or more heroes, enclosed within fifty pages.
3. The novel is a large-scale epic work that tells about the change in the worldview of the protagonist, overcoming the crisis period and spiritual revival. Here, the presence of one or more protagonists (the main protagonist striving for a specific goal) and an antagonist (a character that impedes the achievement of the main goal of the protagonist) is mandatory. The volume of a work can vary from 200 pages to several volumes.
4. A story is a cross between a story and a novel. It is based on the story of events and incidents in the life of the protagonist.
5. Essay - a work of art that does not contain conflict.
There are other types of text genres in this category (epic, short story, ode), but at this stage in the development of literature they are not as popular as the above types.
Description of genres in content
Genres of text in Russian can be classified by content:
1. Comedy - a work with a pronounced humorous or satirical subtext.
Examples: “Woe from Wit”, “Taming of the Shrew”, “Examiner”, “Ideal Husband”.
2. Tragedy - the plot of this type of work is based on a sequence of events that inevitably lead to a tragic ending.
Examples: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Mu-mu.
3. Drama - the basis of works of this type is the problem of human interaction with society, with the outside world and with himself.
Examples: Green Mile, Borrowed Life, Wuthering Heights.
Genres of text in Russian: classification by gender
The following text types are distinguished in this category:
1. Epic - works stretched in time, saturated with many main and auxiliary characters, events and experiences. The story is conducted mainly on behalf of an impartial observer and is presented in the form of memories of accomplished events.
2. Lyrics - a literary text saturated with sensory experiences and the author’s own thoughts.
3. Lyro-epic - a combined type that has absorbed the characteristics of both the epic and lyrical types.
4. The drama is based on the relationship of the characters with each other. It is expressed mainly in the form of a dialogue with explanatory notes of the author.
How to define a genre of text: a few tips
To give a classification to a particular work, it is necessary not only to sort it out, to count the number of pages and evaluate the emotional coloring, but also to understand the author’s idea, comprehend the behavior of the characters, and draw morality from the written.
What feelings did you experience reading a literary creation? You could not help laughing? Most likely, the read work was comedic in nature. Can't hold back tears because of the sudden death of a beloved hero? You read the tragedy. Are the relationships between the characters still tense? Now you know the genre - drama.
How large is your work? Perhaps this is a few pages of text that tells about some event in the character's life. This is a story. Or is it a multi-volume creation with many heroes and an intricate plot. In this case, we are talking about a novel.
How is the text set out: dryly and impartially or, conversely, vividly and emotionally? In the first case, the work can be described as an epic, in the second - as the lyrics.
It is not so difficult to classify texts of different genres; it is enough to understand their meaning.